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Yoon to nominate ex-PM Han for his first prime minister

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo / Yonhap President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will announce the nominee for his first prime minister, Sunday, his office said, with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo widely expected to take the job.Han effectively confirmed his nomination, saying in a phone call with Yonhap News Agency that he met with Yoon on Saturday night and held "comprehensive discussions on overall state affairs," including the issue of personnel appointments."I will attend a press conference at 3:30 p.m.," he said, referring to the news conference Yoon plans to hold to announce his prime minister nominee.Han, 72, has held a number of high positions in the government, including finance minister, prime minister under former President Roh Moo-hyun and ambassador to the United States. In those capacities, he played a key role in negotiating a free trade agreement with the U.S.Han is considered a trade specialist with expertise in foreign affairs, making him a suitable

Apr 3, 2022
Yoon to nominate ex-PM Han for his first prime minister

Lawmakers vow legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights of disabled people

A man has his head shaved, Thursday, as part of a protest held by members of civic groups advocating for disability rights, at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Metro Line 3. NewsisBy Jung Da-min A total of 72 lawmakers have vowed to make bipartisan efforts to guarantee universal rights for the disabled.The lawmakers, including Rep. Kim Yea-ji of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Rep. Choi Hye-young of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Rep. Jang Hye-yeong of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, pledged to make legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights for the disabled, during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday.“We are here together today, because the responsibility to protect the basic rights of people with disabilities, including mobility rights, is not something that should be sought only by those belonging to a specific political party or standing committee, or by those with disabilities themselves or their family members, but the responsibility of all members of the National Assembly,&r

Apr 2, 2022
Lawmakers vow legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights of disabled people

Moon defends economic record, citing strong recovery

President Moon Jae-in /YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in rebutted criticism of his economic performance Friday, citing South Korea's robust recovery largely driven by exports, which hit an all-time high in March. The March export total is "all the more meaningful because it was achieved amid difficulties in external economic conditions, such as the spread of omicron, supply chain disruptions and the Ukraine crisis," Moon said in a message posted on social media. Moon's positive rhetoric on the economy comes as opposition politicians criticized the Moon government's economic policies. "Is it true that our economy has collapsed?" Moon said. "If our economy collapses, companies that are making new history in exports will feel disappointed." Korea's exports jumped 18.2 percent to US$63.4 billion in March from a year earlier on the back of brisk demand for chips and petroleum products, according to government data. But high global energy prices also pushed the country's imports to a record high last month, leading the country to post a trade deficit, the data showed. (Yonhap)

Apr 1, 2022
Moon defends economic record, citing strong recovery

500,000 sign petition opposing Yoon's relocation plan

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol presents the relocation plan for the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul to the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Yongsan District, March 20. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinOver 500,000 people have signed a petition calling for the withdrawal of Yoon's controversial presidential office relocation plan from Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul to the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan District, Seoul. The public petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website on March 17 reads, “Please stop the coercive relocation of the country's national security headquarters thereby wasting several hundred billion won of taxpayer money.” It has collected more than 508,000 signatures, as of 3 p.m., Friday.The petitioner argues that Yoon should seek an alternative to relocation such as remodeling Cheong Wa Dae or finding another empty building, to prevent unnecessary waste of taxpayer money, since his presidential term lasts only five years.According to domestic research group Sisa Research which surveyed 1,023 people aged over 18 on

Apr 1, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
500,000 sign petition opposing Yoon's relocation plan

55% expect Yoon to do good job: survey

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during an event at the Korea International Trade Association in Seoul, March 31. Yonhap Fifty-five percent of South Koreans expect President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol to do a good job after taking office, a survey showed Friday. On the other hand, the Gallup Korea survey of 1,001 adults conducted between Tuesday and Thursday also showed that 41 percent do not expect Yoon to do well on state affairs. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.Compared with a week ago, positive responses on expectations of Yoon's job performance were unchanged, while negative responses slightly rose by 1 percentage point. Yoon of the conservative People Power Party was elected in the March 9 election with 48.56 percent of the vote, beating his Democratic Party rival, Lee Jae-myung, by 0.73 percentage point, the smallest margin ever.Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell 2 pe

Apr 1, 2022
55% expect Yoon to do good job: survey

Yoon delegation to depart for US Sunday

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol /Yonhap A delegation of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will leave for the United States, Sunday for a weeklong trip aimed at coordinating policy ahead of the launch of the new government, an official said Friday.The seven-member delegation, led by Rep. Park Jin of Yoon's People Power Party, will hold meetings with U.S. government and congressional officials, as well as experts on alliance and security issues, Yoon's spokesperson Kim Eun-hye said.The delegation will meet with "key people in positions of responsibility" to conduct "practical policy consultations," Kim said when asked whether there are plans for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden."We are focused on discussing policy and exploring areas of cooperation with our counterparts before President-elect Yoon's inauguration," she said.The rest of the delegation comprises former Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong; Chung Jae-ho, a professor of political science and international r

Apr 1, 2022
Yoon delegation to depart for US Sunday

Cheong Wa Dae demands apology from transition team for raising speculation over DSME CEO appointment

Cheong Wa Dae /Yonhap Cheong Wa Dae demanded an apology from President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team Friday for accusing the outgoing administration of interfering with the appointment of the new CEO of Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering (DSME).Park Soo-hyun, senior secretary for public communication, told TBS radio the Moon Jae-in government "has never been involved in personnel appointments at private companies." On Thursday, transition committee deputy spokesperson Won Il-hee said the team will ask the state auditor to look into the appointment of Park Doo-sun, a friend of Moon's younger brother, as CEO of DSME, which is under government control. Won denounced the appointment as "irrational" and "shameless."Park struck back, describing Won's remarks as "insulting," and demanded the transition team to "politely apologize." He said the transition team threw "cold water" on efforts by Moon and Yoon to ensure a smooth transition. DSME is considered a quas

Apr 1, 2022
Cheong Wa Dae demands apology from transition team for raising speculation over DSME CEO appointment

Yoon, EU chief hold phone talks, eye bilateral summit in second half

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / Courtesy of People Power PartyPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol had a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Thursday and agreed to try to hold a summit in South Korea in the latter half of this year, Yoon's spokesperson said. During their first call, Yoon said Russia's invasion of Ukraine "cannot be justified" and stressed the international community's unified response for peace in Ukraine, Kim Eun-hye said in a press release. The EU chief thanked South Korea for joining sanctions against Russia and providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, referring to Seoul as Europe's "strategic partner," according to the statement. The two sides vowed to align to address major challenges in their respective regions, including North Korea and Ukraine, and expand partnership in health, the environment and digital transitions, it added.(Yonhap)

Mar 31, 2022
Yoon, EU chief hold phone talks, eye bilateral summit in second half

Seoul mayoral election loses luster amid rising interest in Gyeonggi governor race

Rep. Hong Joon-pyo officially declares his bid to run in the main opposition People Power Party's primary to select its candidate to run in the Daegu mayoral election in the southern city, Thursday. YonhapGyeonggi governor, Daegu mayor now most sought-after elected posts for DPK, PPP members, respectively By Kang Hyun-kyungSeoul's mayor in the past had been the most sought-after elected post for politicians who were ambitious enough to attempt a run for the top job in the government, as the position often served as a springboard to the presidential race. Historically, several Seoul mayors were nominated or ran in presidential elections after winning their party's nominations. Former President Lee Myung-bak won the 2007 presidential election with 48.67 percent, a double-digit margin over then his rival Jung Dong-young, after pushing through the Cheonggye Stream restoration project as Seoul's mayor. With the upcoming June 1 local elections coming up, it seems that a seismic shift could be underway in politicians' perception toward certain elective posts. The Seoul mayoral election seem

Mar 31, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Seoul mayoral election loses luster amid rising interest in Gyeonggi governor race

Ex-presidential contender Yoo announces bid for Gyeonggi governor

Former opposition lawmaker Yoo Seong-min announces his plan to run for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June local elections, March 31. YonhapFormer opposition lawmaker Yoo Seong-min announced Thursday that he would run for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June local elections.In declaring his bid for the top post of Korea's most populous province, Yoo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) vowed to put his 23 years of political experience toward the governor job. Yoo, who finished fourth in the 2017 presidential election, earlier competed in the PPP's presidential primary that was eventually won by now President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. Meanwhile, Kim Dong-yeon, a former finance minister who withdrew his candidacy in this year's presidential election to support the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Jae-myung, also announced his bid for the governorship. (Yonhap)

Mar 31, 2022
Ex-presidential contender Yoo announces bid for Gyeonggi governor
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